Joyce DiDonato – Handel: Agrippina (2020) [FLAC 24bit/44,1kHz]

The American mezzo sings the title role of the scheming Roman matriarch in a starrily-cast recording of Handel’s early opera with Il Pomo d’Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

Handel spent many years in Italy during his youth and it was here that he composed his anti-heroic comedy, Agrippina, at the age of twenty-four, before eventually settling down in London. Its immoral, corrupt and decadent plots are presented as an inherent part of daily life for the ruling class of ancient Rome, along with their insatiable desire for political and sexual power. Handel was fascinated by Italian music and composed this particular opera in less than three weeks upon the request of a Venetian theatre, where it was then performed some twenty-seven nights in a row. Such was the enormity of the opera’s success that it firmly established the young composer’s reputation in Europe as a result. The score is bursting with emotion and has so many twists and turns that even the Venetians, who were used to these kinds of storylines, were blown away. The colourful libretto includes betrayals, assassinations, feigned love and lies of every kind – all of which are elements that the American film industry delights in incorporating into the films of today under the direction of someone like Martin Scorsese or the Coen brothers.

This studio recording was made in the Dolomites in May 2019, in conjunction with a European tour and features a dazzling cast led by the fierce Joyce DiDonato (Agrippina). This is DiDonato is at her very best, combining her vocals with marvellously conducted flourishes. She perfectly encapsulates the difficult, multi-faceted role by reflecting each one of Agrippina’s personality traits, from formidable intelligence and masterful manipulation to being a loving mother and wife. Joining her onstage is an exceptional cast that includes Franco Fagioli (Nerone), Jakub Józef Orliński (Ottone), Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Giunone) and Elsa Benoit (Poppea), along with the II Pomo d’Oro ensemble, feverishly conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev. This can only be described as a Handel grand cru. – François Hudry

Tracklist:

01. Agrippina, HWV 6: Sinfonia
02. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Nerone, amato figlio” (Agrippina, Nerone)
03. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Col saggio tuo consiglio” (Nerone)
04. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Per cosi grand’impresa” (Agrippina)
05. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “A’ cenni tuoi sovrani” (Pallante, Agrippina)
06. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “La mia sorte fortunata” (Pallante)
07. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Or che Pallante è vinto” (Agrippina)
08. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Umile alle tue piante” (Agrippina, Narciso)
09. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Volo pronto” (Narciso)
10. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Quanto fa, quanto puote” (Agrippina)
11. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “L’alma mia fra le tempeste” (Agrippina)
12. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Qual piacer” (Nerone)
13. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Amici, al sen vi stringo” (Nerone)
14. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ecco chi presto” (Pallante, Narciso, Nerone)
15. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Voi, che dell’alta Roma” (Agrippina)
16. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Il tuo figlio / La tua prole” (Agrippina, Nerone, Narciso, Pallante)
17. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ma qual di liete trombe” (Agrippina)
18. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Allegrezza, allegrezza!” (Lesbo)
19. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Che sento!” (Lesbo, Pallante, Agrippina, Narciso, Nerone)
20. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Alle tue piante, o Augusta” (Ottone, Pallante, Agrippina, Narciso, Nerone)
21. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Augusta, amo Poppea” (Ottone, Agrippina)
22. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Tu ben degno” (Agrippina)
23. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “L’ultima del gioir” (Ottone)
24. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Lusinghiera mia speranza” (Ottone)
25. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Vaghe perle” (Poppea)
26. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Otton, Claudio, Nerone” (Poppea)
27. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Signora, o mia signora!” (Lesbo, Poppea)
28. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Di lieta nuova” (Lesbo, Agrippina, Poppea)
29. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Perché invece di Claudio” (Poppea)
30. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “È un foco quel d’amore” (Poppea)
31. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “(Ma qui Agrippina viene)” [Agrippina, Poppea]
32. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ho un non so che nel cor” (Agrippina)
33. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Cieli, quai strani casi” (Poppea)
34. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Non veggo alcun” (Lesbo)
35. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Pur ritorno a rimirarvi” (Claudio)
36. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ma, o ciel, mesta e confusa” (Claudio, Poppea)
37. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Vieni, o cara” (Claudio)
38. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “(Che mai farò?)” [Poppea, Claudio]
39. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Signor, signor, presto” (Lesbo, Claudio, Poppea)
40. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “E quando mai / Quando vorrai” (Poppea, Claudio, Lesbo)
41. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Pur al fin se n’andò” (Poppea)
42. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “O mia liberatrice” (Poppea, Agrippina)
43. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Non ho cor che per amarti” (Agrippina)
44. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Se Ottone m’ingannò” (Poppea)
45. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Se giunge un dispetto” (Poppea)
46. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Dunque noi siam traditi” (Pallante, Narciso)
47. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Coronato il crin d’alloro”(Ottone)
48. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Roma, più ch’il trionfo” (Pallante, Narciso, Ottone)
49. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: Prelude
50. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ecco il superbo” (Agrippina, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone, Narciso)
51. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Di timpani e trombe” (Poppea, Nerone, Agrippina, Ottone, Narciso, Pallante, Lesbo)
52. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Nella Britannia vinta” (Claudio)
53. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Cade il mondo” (Claudio)
54. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Signor, quanto il mio cuore” (Agrippina, Claudio, Poppea, Nerone, Narciso, Pallante, Ottone)
55. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Nulla sperar da me” (Agrippina)
56. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “E tu Poppea” (Ottone)
57. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Tuo ben è il trono” (Poppea)
58. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Soccorri almen Nerone” (Ottone)
59. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Sotto il lauro” (Nerone)
60. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Scherzo son”(Ottone, Narciso, Pallante, Lesbo)
61. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Otton, otton” (Ottone)
62. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Voi ch’udite” (Ottone)
63. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Spera, alma mia” (Poppea)
64. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Il tormento d’Ottone” (Poppea)
65. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “(Par che amor sia)” [Poppea]
66. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Vaghe fonti” (Ottone)
67. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ma qui che veggo” (Ottone, Poppea)
68. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Fantasme della mente”
69. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ti vuo’ giusta” (Ottone)
70. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Da quali ordite trame” (Poppea)
71. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ingannata una sol volta” (Poppea)
72. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Pur alfin ti ritrovo” (Lesbo, Poppea)
73. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “A non pochi perigli” (Poppea)
74. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Son qui, mia vita” (Nerone, Poppea)
75. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Col peso del tuo amor” (Poppea)
76. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Qual bramato piacere” (Nerone)
77. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Quando invita” (Nerone)
78. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Pensieri, voi mi tormentate” / “Quel ch’oprai” (Agrippina)
79. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Se ben nemica sorte” (Pallante, Agrippina)
80. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Col raggio placido” (Pallante)
81. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Di giunger non dispero” (Agrippina)
82. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Or è tempo” (Agrippina, Narciso)
83. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Spererò, poiché mel dice” (Narciso)
84. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Per dar la pace al core” (Agrippina)
85. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “A vagheggiar io vengo” (Claudio, Agrippina)
86. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Signor, Poppea” (Lesbo, Claudio, Agrippina)
87. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Basta che sol tu chieda” (Claudio)
88. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Favorevol la sorte” (Agrippina)
89. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ogni vento” (Agrippina)
90. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Il caro Otton” (Poppea)
91. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ah, mia Poppea” (Ottone, Poppea)
92. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Tacerò” (Ottone)
93. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Attendo qui Nerone” (Poppea)
94. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Anelante ti reco” (Nerone, Poppea, Ottone)
95. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3 “Coll’ardor del tuo bel core” (Nerone)
96. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Amico ciel” (Poppea)
97. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Qui non v’è alcun” (Lesbo, Claudio, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone)
98. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Temerario insolente” (Claudio, Nerone, Poppea, Ottone)
99. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ora, Claudio, che dici?” (Poppea, Claudio)
100. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Io di Roma” (Claudio)
101. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Pur alfin se n’andò” (Poppea)
102. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ora Ottone, che dici?” (Poppea, Ottone)
103. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Pur ch’io ti stringa al sen” (Ottone)
104. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Piega pur del mio cor” (Poppea)
105. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Bel piacere” (Poppea)
106. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Cotanto osò Poppea?” (Agrippina, Nerone)
107. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Come nube” (Nerone)
108. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Evvi donna più empia?” (Pallante, Narciso)
109. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Agrippina, Nerone” (Claudio, Pallante, Narciso)
110. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Adorato mio sposo” (Agrippina, Claudio, Pallante, Narciso)
111. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Se vuoi pace” (Agrippina)
112. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ecco la mia rivale” (Agrippina, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone, Claudio)
113. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Lieto il Tebro” (Agrippina, Poppea, Claudio, Nerone, Ottone, Pallante, Narciso, Lesbo, Giunone)
114. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “D’Ottone e di Poppea” (Giunone)
115. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “V’accendano le tede” (Giunone)
116. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Gigue
117. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Sarabande
118. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Bourrée
119. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Menuet
120. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Passacaille
121. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Fa’ quanto vuoi” (Poppea) [Appendix]
122. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “No, no, ch’io non apprezzo” (Ottone, Poppea) [Appendix]